Liverpool vs. Man City
Venue: Anfield Stadium
Kick off: 9pm
Just three days removed from their meeting in the League Cup final, Liverpool and Manchester City will do battle again in the Premier League on Wednesday night (today).
It was Manuel Pellegrini’s side who were celebrating at Wembley on Sunday, but failure to back that up with another win this week could prove to be fatal to their title hopes.
Another year, another cup final defeat for Jurgen Klopp.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss has now reached a cup final in each of his last five seasons as a manager, but has lost the last four following Sunday’s defeat at Wembley.
While a top-four finish is effectively already beyond them, a top-half finish must be considered the bare minimum.
Victory over Man City would give them back-to-back league wins for the first time this calendar year, but their home record will not inspire optimism.
Liverpool are yet to win a league game at Anfield in 2016 and have picked up the same amount of points in front of their own fans as relegation-threatened pair Newcastle United and Swansea City.
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini can now breathe a little easier having got his hands on a piece of silverware in his final season at the club.
The Chilean has oozed class throughout his dealings regarding Pep Guardiola’s impending arrival, but deep down he would have been desperate not to sign off on the back of a second consecutive trophyless season.
He is unlikely to settle for just the League Cup, though. His side already have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals and will feel that the Premier League title is still within their grasp.
City’s game in hand, which they will be confident of winning against Newcastle, could prove to be a pivotal part of the title race, as was the case two years ago when they pipped Liverpool to becoming champions of England.
They are unbeaten on their league travels since before Christmas, but have also only won two of their last nine away games and have a particularly poor record on recent visits to Anfield.
Liverpool possible starting lineup: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Lovren, Moreno, Milner, Henderson, Can, Coutinho, Firmino, Lallana.
Man City possible starting lineup: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy, Fernandinho, Fernando, Navas, Silva, Sterling, Aguero.
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